Method and apparatus for assembling venetian blinds



March 25, 1958 H. ADELMAN 2,327,686

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Sept. 15, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. HAQQY A051. MAN,

A7- TOQNEY- March 25, 1958 H. ADELMAN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLINDS x N E 2 R. A N t o M E e M L a m E E T vS V 1 T W AM A e e 4 Q A v HM wm &% hm mm m U 4 Q gm M Qmh mm mm w t. a R p g N R w wk m March 25, 1958 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLINDS Filed Sept. 15, 1953 J73 50 75 N .59 i 5162 158 54 50 as a5 4 1 A 52 24 501K. o -i .146 9o) v i; 61 1504 i in 30 y H. ADELMAN 2,827,686

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 "u INVENTOR. Hheey ADELMAN,

BY I

ATTOENEY.

March 25, 1958 H. ADELMAN 2,827,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLINDS F iled Sept. 15, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 23 JNVENTOR. I HARRY ADELMA N,

A rrae/vE y- United States Patent G METHGD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING VENETIAN BLINDS Harry Adelman, Pomona, Calif. Application September 15, 1953, Serial No. 380,211 Claims. (Cl. 29-245) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for assembling automatically Venetian blinds.

Various prior proposed means have been provided for facilitating the assembly of elongated Venetian blind slats in laterally spaced lifting tapes which are carried by a head member. Such prior proposed means have included partially automatic means, as for example, such means have been provided for feeding a Venetian blind cord through openings provided therefor in Venetian blind slats as the slats are assembled with respect to the lifting tapes. Other prior proposed means have included devices whereby the ladder openings are held expanded so that Venetian blind slats may be inserted thereinto and positioned in assembled relation with the lifting tapes. In such prior proposed means for facilitating assembly of Venetian blinds known to me, the Venetian blind slats have been fed into their respective slat receiving openings in the lifting tapes by hand.

This invention contemplates a method and apparatus for assembling Venetian blinds wherein the entire assembly operation is performed automatically and without individually handling the Venetian blind slats.

An object of this invention is to disclose and provide a method and apparatus for automatically assembling Venetian blinds wherein the operation is automatic commencing from the withdrawing of ribbon stock material from which the slats are formed from a reel to the complete assembly of a pro-selected number of slats with the lifting tapes and lifting cords.

Another object of this invention is to disclose such an automatic apparatus for assembling Venetian blinds which is simple in construction, which saves considerable labor, and which accomplishes the assembly operation in an expeditious manner.

A further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a method and apparatus for assembling Venetian blinds wherein the slats are successively fed into respective aligned openings of lifting tapes and then raised step-by-step so as to permit succeeding slats to enter into their respective openings in said lifting tapes.

A still further object of this invention is to assemble Venetian blind slats as above-mentioned wherein the Venetian blind lifting cord is threaded into openings provided therefor in said slats as said slats are raised in stepby-step fashion.

A further object of this invention is to provide specific means for expanding slat receiving openings provided in said lifting tapes just prior to the passage therethrough of an advancing slat.

This invention contemplates a method and apparatus for automatically assembling Venetian blinds wherein an advancing slat actuates means for advancing a succeeding slat along a pro-selected path of travel and also actuates means for lifting a slat positioned in assembled relation with lifting tapes out of said normal path of travel.

A still further object of this invention is to disclose and provide an apparatus for assembling Venetian blind slats or elongated strip elements in parallel lines whereby rapid production of assembled units in commercial quantities is achieved.

Generally speaking, the method and apparatus of this invention contemplates unwinding strip material from a reel, punching selected spaced lifting cord openings therein and cutting to a pre-selected slat length, successively advancing said pre-cut punched-slats in a line along a horizontal path into an assembly zone wherein Venetian blind lifting tapes are positioned in selected spaced relation with slat receiving openings in alignment, guiding a slat along said path through said slat receiving openings, and then stopping said advancing slat at a preselected position whereby the lifting cord openings are properly aligned with said lifting tapes for receiving a lifting cord. The advancing slat actuates means for advancing a second slat along said path of travel. Before the second slat reaches the assembly zone, the first slat actuates means for raising the first slat vertically a selected distance so as to position a lower set of slat receiving openings in saidhorizontal path for reception of the second slat. As succeeding slatsare assembled with the lifting tapes and raised in a vertical planar zone in step-by-step fashion a lifting cord is threaded through each of the lifting cord openings in the assembled slats. This sequence of steps is repeated until a preselected number of slats have been assembled in the lifting tapes at which time operation of the apparatus ceases so that the assembled slats and lifting tapes may be removed therefrom.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent.

from the following description of the drawings in which an exemplary of the embodiment of this invention is shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary diagrammatic view of an apparatus embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the slat assembly zone and structure therefor shown at the right of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2 taken from the right.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged side view of a device for expanding a slat receiving opening.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of Fig. 4 with the lifting tape eliminated therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a top view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary View showing the device of Fig. 4 expanded within a slat receiving opening.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a lever and linkage arrangement automatically lifting one end of an assembled slat.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic perspective view of drive means for the slat assembly apparatus shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of guide means for the movable support means carried by the frame.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary perspective View of means for threading a lifting cord through said slats as they are raised step-by-step.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged view of the end of the threading needle shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of guide means and a first switch means carried by the frame in the horizontal path of travel of a slat.

Fig. 14 is an end view of Fig. 13 taken from the right thereof.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second and final switch means positioned in said horizontal path of travel of a slat for stopping advancement of said slat.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary diagrammatic View of a modification of the means for intermittently raising the slat assembly.

The apparatus of this invention is generally shown in Fig. 1. A supply roll 20 carries and provides a quan- Patented Mar. 25, 1958 machine to a friction drive means generally indicated at 23jvfo'r advancing a precut slat at a greater rate of speed than the advancement 'ofsaid slat through the. cutting machine.

' The friction drive means, 23 advances a slatin a horizontal path. into a vertical assembly zone defined by an apparatus. generally. indicated at 24 for automatically assembling a'pluralit'y of slats. The apparatus 24' receivesjeach slat along a horizontal path for assembly Withspaced lifting tape means having horizontally aligned slat receiving openings; When .aslat is in position inone set of openings, the lifting tape mea'ns and slat are lifted upwardly a preselected distance so that a following slat may be received in a lower set of openings and in assembly with. the lifting. tape means. Slats are.

intermittently fed to thefriction drive means 23 in correlated timed relation with the assembly of the slats in apparatus 24 by means actuated by the position of a slat being assembled. In this manner a preselected number of slats are automatically assembled in lifting tape means.

To facilitate explanation of the apparatus 'of this invention, ltjlS understood that a Venetian blind comprises arheader. member 26, a bottom member 27, and a plurality of horizontally spaced lifting tape means 28 connected to and extending between theheader and bottom members26 and 27. Each lifting tape means includes a plurality of slat receiving openings 29 (Figs,

4 and 11) definedby ladders 39' alternately laterallyoffset with respect to'the, longitudinal axis of the tape means.

Lateral spacing between adjacent offset ladders 30 is sufficient to accommodate therebetween a lifting cord 31 which extends through lifting, cord openings 32 provided in each slat 33 in alignment with the axis of lifting tapes 28. This arrangement of a Venetian blind assembly is well known.

In detail, the supply roll 20 may be suitably positioned upon an axlef35 f'or facilitating turning of the roll. The axle 35fmay be mounted upon standards 36 in well-known manner. The strip material of supply roll 20 may be of any selected metal material having painted or enameled surfaces and having a slightly convex-concavercross section torlend .strength'to the strip against bending;

The p'ull roll, means 21 comprises .tWo sets of longitudinally spaced rollers, each set comprising top and bottom rollers 38adapted to frictionally receive therebetween strip'material from the supply roll for pulling the strip material from said roll; The ro1lers38 of each set may be driven by any suitable means and in this example are driven intimed relation to'the cutting machine 22 as later described. A slack takeup idle roll (not shown) may be employed withthe pull roll means 21.

'The stampingand cutting machine 22 is' of well-known make and manufacture and is designed to receive in a horizontal plane strip material advanced thereinto by pull roll means 21. The cutting machine includes dies whereby the strip material maybecu'tto a preselected length and whereby lifting .cord' openings 32 may be stamped or punched thereinto in proper preselected spaced relation. The cutting machineZZ may include an auxiliary'starnping machine;39 opera'tedlin correlation with frame structure at the top thereof. Each lower sprocket machine 22 for punching intermediate lifting cord openings'in' aslat supported byrmore-than two lifting tapes. The; cutting; machine; also includes. a :counting device 40 section, such' as a channel section shown.

asaaese V a by which the number of. slats cut by the machine are automatically counted. The counting device is connected to the machine in well-known manner so that when a selected. number of slats have been cut by the machine, the machine will automatically stop.

A section of strip material, which has been punched and cut by machine 22 and which may then be identified as a slat 33, is advanced by the cutting machine along a straight, horizontal path to friction drive means 23. drive roller and a top idle roller 42 of smaller diameter carried by an arm 43 pivotally connected, as at 44,

.to an extension of the: cutting machine 22. The roller ing a slat 33 forwardly of the succeeding or following.

slat.

The assembly apparatus 24*(Figs. 2' and 3') comprises an upstanding frame: structure including longitudinally spaced parallel vertical'rails 47'made of any suitable metal. The rails 47 may be connected'to a base member 48 which may be supportedon any suitable foundation. The spaced rails 47 may beinterbraced forrigidity'in any suitable manner (not shown) and may include diagonally downwardly directed frame members 49.

? Vertically movable carrier means 50are carriedby the,

frame structure and are guided by the verticalrails. 47 for vertical reciprocal movement.

iron member 51 ofa length sufiic'ient to accommodate the greatest width-of 'a'Venetian blindto be assembled. The member 51. is supported forwardly of ,the rails. 47 by spaced rearwardly extendinghorizontal beams 52' secured to the member 51' as by welding. Each member 52' may be secured as by welding to a vertically disposed plate 53 lying in a plane perpendicular toand'adjacent to the plane of'a rail 47. Each plate 53 carries a pair of vertically spaced guide r0llers54 (Figs. 2 and 10) adapted to contact the.

front surface of rail 47. Each plate 43 also carries. an

inner guide roller 55 lying between rollers 54 and adapted. to bear. against the inner surface of the front flange of the channel rail'47'. The'plate 53 may also carry a side-; wardly extending arm 56 upon which may be mounted a guide-roller57 adapted to rollingly contact the outer surface ofthe web of rai1,47.'. It will thus be readily apparent. thatthe member 51 is positively. and accurately guided.

by rails 47 through the plurality of' guiderollers 54,55, and 57. a

Meansforraisingand lowering the carrierfmeans 50 may. include a pairoflongitudinally spaced endless chain ings between rollers of the chain. Each chain means 59' is carried by-apair of. vertically spaced sprockets 62, thetop sprocket 62 being rotatably mounted about a longitudinally extending shaft 63 journably carried by the 62 is mounted on an end of a rotatably drivenshaft 64 which extends longitudinally of the frame structure and parallel toshaft 63. Each chain means 59 may carry on the rearward laythereof a suitably selected counterweight means 65 forcounterbalancing the weight of the movable carrier means 50 and the weight of the header member 26 and lifting tapes associated therewith. a

Means fordriving sprockets162 in an intermittent;

fashioninorder to raise-the carrier means-50 in step-bystep, fashion may comprise a motor. 67, preferably; reversa' ible orrelectricallyi connected'so as to raise andglower:

The friction drive means 23 includes a bottom.

The carrier means 501 may include. a. Iongitudinally'extending horizontal angle the carrier means. The motor 67 (Fig. 9) drives a belt pulley means generally indicated at 68 of well-known form, the driven end of said pulley means being connected to a solenoid actuated single revolution clutch means 69. The clutch means 69 is connected to a forwardly directed shaft 70 provided with a worm gear 71 which engages with a gear 72 carried by the bottom sprocket shaft 64. Thus upon actuation of the single revolution clutch means 69 the chain means 59 will be moved vertically for a preselected distance as determined by the ratio of gears 71 and 72 during one revolution of the clutch 69.

Means for supporting the head member 26 of a Venetian blind from the movable carrier means 50 may comprise a plurality of longitudinally spaced hanger members 74. Each hanger member 74 includes a top rearwardly bent over end portion 75 which forms, with the main portion of member 74, a recess 76 adapted to slidably engage an upstanding flange 77 of the support member 51. The lower end portion 78 of member 74 is bent outwardly so as to lie in a horizontal plane. The header member 26 is seated on said horizontal end portion 78 and is thus supported horizontally in a vertical planar assembly zone forwardly of rails 47 of the frame structure.

Means for guiding a slat 33 in a horizontal path across the vertical zone defined by members 74 is provided by a longitudinally extending horizontal member 80 which is carried by spaced forwardly extending brackets 81 attached to rails 47 in suitable manner. Each bracket 81 may be offset upwardly as at 82 in order to provide vertical clearance for adjustably sliding various guide devices and actuating means along the member 80 to adjust the apparatus to various Widths of Venetian blinds to be assembled. The member 80 may be fabricated from a pair of angle irons having their horizontal flanges 83 secured together in any suitable manner and presenting their vertical flanges 84 in the same vertical plane. The member 80 may be of substantially the same length as the movable carrier member 51 so as to conveniently carry guide means for a slat of any selected length.

The member 80 lies in the same horizontal plane as the horizontal path of movement of a slat 33 as it departs from the friction drive means 23. Means are provided for supporting and guiding each slat 33 as it advances in said horizontal path, said guiding means also serving to expand and hold open slat receiving openings 29 in the lifting tape means 28. Such support, guide, and slat opening means are generally indicated at 86 and may be associated with each lifting tape means 28 except the most remote tape means as shown on the drawings.

The guide means 86 are shown in detail in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7. As best seen in Fig. 5, each guide means 86 includes a clip member 89 having a top bent over portion 90 adapted to receive and adjustably slidably engage vertical flange 84 of the member 80. The member 89 includes a pair of parallel spaced forwardly extending arms 91 which are adapted to receive therebetween a lifting tape means 28, as seen in Figs. 4 and 6. The arms 91 serve to guide and hold the lifting tape means 28 in vertical parallel relation in the assembly zone while the'movable carrier means 50 is intermittently raised.

The proximate arm 91 with respect to the direction of advancement of a slot 33 may carry a longitudinally extending bracket 92 having a depending flange 93 secured thereto as by welding. A horizontally extending portion 94 supports a longitudinal slidable element 95 which carries a pair of longitudinally spaced depending pins 96 and 97. The pins 96 and 97 extend through respective elongated slots 98 and 99 in portion 94 for slidable movement therein. The element 95 may be provided with a pointed end 100 having a seating flange 102 defined by diagonally extending shoulders or edge faces 101 and which is adapted to carry a pair of angle sections V or diagonally arranged wedge elements 103.

Each element 103 includes a seating portion 104 carried by flange 102 and an upstanding inwardly tilted flange 105. The inward tilt of flange 105 serves to retain a slat against upward displacement during advancement. The

leading edge of each flange 105 is inclined rearwardly to facilitate entry beneath a ladder lying in the path of a slat. Each element 103 is pivotally mounted on the extended seating flange 102 adjacent its outer and rearmost corner by a pin 106 fixed to the element 103. Each pin 106 may be bent into .the form of a crank and normally extends laterally outwardly from element 95. The remote end of each pin 106 is connected to one end of a spring 107 which is secured at its other end as at 108 to the depending flange 93. The springs 107 bias the elements 103 into closed pointed or wedge relationship, as shown in Fig. 5.

In operation of the guide means 86, as a slat 33 is advanced along said horizontal path (with slat receiving openings 29 aligned therewith) the leading end of said slat passes over the element and into the V formed by upstanding flanges of elements 103. The advancing slat 33 causes element 95 and elements 103 to advance longitudinally therewith until the crank shaped pins 106 contact as at 110, Fig. 7, surfaces of the adjacent arm 91. Contact with the arm 91 causes the crank shaped pins 106 to pivot rearwardly and thus cause the elements 103 which were disposed in closed V-shape arrangement to open and move sidewardly into parallel relation against the vertical ribbons 28a of lifting tapes 28 so as to positively hold the slat receiving opening 29 in expanded position. A slat 33 is thus guided through a slat receiving opening 29 without interference by the tape means and advances toward the next lifting tape means and its associated guide means 86.

The guide means 86 is automatically retractable into its normal position when the leading edge of a slat 33 clears the flanges 105, said flanges being retracted in parallel relation and serving as guides for the rest of the slat. Upon clearance of a slat 33, a spring 111 which is connected at one end to a depending stud 112 carried by the horizontal portion 94 and at its other end to a downwardly extended portion of pin 97 which is carried by the movable element 95, serves to bias the movable element 95 opposite to the direction of slat advancement until the pins 96 and 97 contact the rear walls of the slots 98 and 99. The springs 107 cause elements 103 to close into normal V arrangement when a slat 33 is lifted vertically upon completion of its advancement into the lifting tapes.

As a slat 33 approaches the remote lifting tape means 28 a switch means generally indicated at 115 is interposed in its path for the purpose of electrically actuating the cutting machine so as to punch and cut a succeeding slat and to advance a succeeding slat along said horizontal path. The switch means 115 is adapted to be slid-ably adjusted along the horizontal member 80 and is best seen in Figs. 13 and 14. 1

In front of switch means 115 may be provided a platform 116 carried by member 80 and having a top flat surface lying just below path of travel of the slat 33. The bracket 116 includes a pair of longitudinally spaced depending legs 117, the forwardly facing leg 117 carrying a longitudinally extended angle bracket 118. The angle bracket 118 includes a horizontal portion 119 having a top surface in the plane of the top surface of plate 116. The forward edge of portion 119 may be curved slightly downwardly to form an apron 120 so as to receive and guide upwardly if necessary the leading edge of a slat 33. Side margins of horizontal portion 119 may carry downwardly biased overlying hinge leaves 121. The hinge leaves 121 are provided with upwardly curved slat facing end portions 122 so as to cooperate with the apron 120 to form a mouth into which the leading edge of slat 33 may be positively guided. A slat 33 entering the mouth is held down against the top surfaces of the portion 119 and the plate 116 by the biased leaves 121 so as to posistay contact and strike" an upstanding switch 'icontact element 123 positioned adjacent the distal fle'g'1-17 prthe weakening; s

The switch contact ele'ment 5123' when projects u wardly int'o'the path of a slat 33 ispivotally mounted intermediate its ends, as at 124, Fig. 2, in a recess formed 7 in a supporting member or arm 130. The lower end of contact element 123 -'abuts against a :ircnit-n'rakingw element --I2"6 carried by a limit switch 127. Thus as the leading edge of sla'tf33-hits contacrelement 123-, the 'contaet element pivots about 'it'spivot point 124 and causes the ci'rcnit-maki-n'g element-126 to-yclose an elecmeans '127 causes actuation of the cutting machine' to punch and 'cut a succeeding slat. 'It'also causes a longitudinally extending rotatably mounted member-12940 rotate in a clockwise direction for positively'dr'awing the contact'element 123 downwardly and out of the path of the slat-element.

The contact element 123 is carried at "the extremity of an arm 130 which is pivotally mounted inwardly of the assembly zone for rotation about a pivotal airis at 131. A depending arm 132 is integral with arm '130 and extends downwardly into engagement as at '133 with the rotatable member 129. Thus as the member 129 is rotated' clockwise, the depending arm 132 and likewise the horizontally extended arm 130 are rotated counterclockwise whereby contact element 123 is withdrawn below the path of a slat 33.

The electrical circuit means for actuating the cutting machine 'isynot shown because it is well known and any suitable circuitry may be employed.

The means for rotating the member 129 ,is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8; and may include a pivoted crank member 135 extending outwardly from the cutting machine and pivotally connected at 136 to one end of a lever 137. The lever 137 may -be pivoted intermediate its ends at 138 and is pivotally connected at its opposite end as at 139 to a link 140 which is pivotally connected at its lower end at 141 to an arm 142 fixed to a shaft 143. The shaft 143 is journably mounted adjacent friction drive means 23 and carries a crank arm 144 at its other end. The crank arm 144 is connecte'dto a link 145 which is secured to a rod 146 which is accommodated between 'th'eang le flanges of the member 129 and se- 7 cured thereto as by welding. The rod 146 extends for the brief moment that the slat 33 is stopped by contact.

element 123, the friction drive means 23 slips on the surfaces of the slat engaged by rolls 41 and 42. The engagement is not sulficient to cause buckling of ithe'slat.

'After a-slat 33 has passed over the switch means 115; it' is' finally positioned by a second switch means 150 positioned at the end of member 80 so that lifting cord openings 32 in each slat will be properly aligned between the ladders 30 of each of the lifting tape'me'ans 28. The leading edge of a slat 33 is guided into abutment with the final positioning switch means 150 by means of an upwardly inclined trough 151 hung on upstanding flange 84 of the; member 80 by a bent-over strap-like portion 152. The trough member 151 includes a' bottom wall 153 and npstandirig side walls 154 which receive therebetweenthe leading :end of a slat 33;" The leading'edge of a slat- 33 str ike's a switch elerneiit @155 which is 1 caused gaz /a e to be a t-ea a are "direction oraa'vncement-or the staff f 'Glosure pfQtl-iis circuit causes actuation pfthe solenoid operated; single revolution clutch 69 wher'ebysha-it {70 is rotated for one revolution and the chain means '59 are thereby moved a preselected distance to cause thecarrier means50 robe lifted. Lifting of carrierl'rneans 50'raises the slat 33 which is now supported by the ladders 30 0f the' tapej means 28 and raises the assembled slat out of said"horiznfital'pathfof travel. The height through which the shit is lifted is; virtually the distance between ladders 30 so that" the immedi te adjacent lower set of aligned slat receiving openings 29 {are positioned in said path of travel for reeeptionof a'succe'eding slat 33. I

To prevent niultiple actuation of the switch means by a stat 33 and which-might cause the. single revolm tion clutch to operate'twice or more, positive means are provided for liftingthe leading end of aslat33'upwardly and "out of contaet making' position with'th'e switch member 155. Such means are shown in Fig. 'l 5'and in Fig. 3. Shaft 70 carries outwardly of the worm gear-71 and extension 1 57 which carries at its outer end a disk 153-haw upper .portion of pin 164 is guided through a ported lug 168 to an aligned opening 169' in the 'bottomwall 153 of the trough 151. Upon lifting of pin 164 by rotation of member 129, the top edge of pin 164 contacts thelowersurface of theflleadingi end of a slat .33 and lifts the 'slat' upwardly and beyond the top edge of contact a member 155.. Before the pin is 'dropped from this posi tion,the lifting tapes 28 will have'engageda slat v33 so as to maintain it in a position above theswitch memberJISSL Means for automatically threading a lifting cord 31 through aligned liftingcord' openings 32 .as. slat 33 is raised in assembly with the lifting tape means'is 'illusa trated' in Fig. 11, Figs. 2 and 3.; Iln Fig. 3 it will benoted that the frame structure includes horizontal outwardly' extending top members 172 securedto the rails 47. The members 172 may be diagonally braced by members 173. Their forward end portions lie, in the vertical assembly z'one'defined by header member 26 and the depending liftingtape means 28. The forwardly extending members 17 2 may be connected by a horizontal transversely extendihg'b'ar173. The bar 173 serves to supportfa plurality of rigid elongated threading needles 174 which extend downwardly through guiding portsflprovided in guide'brackets 178 carried by the carrier means '50 and through the lifting cord openings 179 inthe header member 26. The lower end of each threading needle 174 is positioned just above-the horizontal path of travel of a slat 33 as seen at 180 in Fig. 3. Lifting cords are threaded in an'eye 181 provided in the lower end of the needle 174 said lifting cords passing through the opening I 179 in the header member 26. The remaining portion of the cordmay loosely lie adjacent to the header member so that it'may automatically be fed 'therethrough as the header member is raised during operation.

In operation-of the apparatus of this invention described above, it is understood that a header member 26 with'a selected number'of lifting tape means 28 may be assembled in usual fashion by securing upperend portions of:said tapes'to the header members atspreselecte'd spacedintervals; The lowerends ofsaid tapesrnay be connected in usual manner, to bottom .rail 27. .After. the header member 26 and rail 27. and lifting tapes28 haveibeen connected together, the header :member 'may be placed on the carrier means 50 by simply slidably adjusting the members 74 so that they lie between lifting tape means and laying the header member on the horizontal supports 78. Initially the header member lies just above the horizontal path of travel defined by the member 80 and the guide means carried thereby. The lower portions of the tape means 28 may loosely lie on the floor.

When the apparatus is started by well-known electrical means, the pull roll means 21 pull a portion of the strip material from supply roll 20 and feed the free portion into the stamping and cutting machine. The stamping and cutting machine is adjusted to cut the strip ma terial to a preselected length and also to punch lifting cord openings therein at the preselected spaced intervals. The strip material thus fed into the cutting machine is cut and punched and is ejected therefrom by the roll means 21 until the cut slat is received by the friction drive means 23. The friction drive means 23 accelerates the rate of advancement of a slat 33 along the horizontal path of travel of the assembly apparatus 24. A guide means 86 is positioned closely adjacent to the friction drive means so as to initially receive the leading end of a slat 33 and to guide the slat through the first of the set of slat receiving openings 29 immediately adjacent the header member 26. The friction drive means advances the slat along said path through the several aligned slat receiving openings 29 until the leading edge of the slat contacts switch means 115.

The switch means 115 then causes actuation of the cutting machine and pull roll means 21 for pulling and feeding additional strip material from the supply roll and cutting a second slat 33. At the same time the switch means 115 causes rotation of bar 129 so as to positively lower the contact element 123 out of the path of the advancing slat. As the slat advances to switch means 150, it is guided through the remaining slat receiving openings in the remote lifting tape means 28 and upon contact with member 155 it is accurately ultimately positioned in assembled relation with the lifting tape means and with openings 29 in alignment with the threading needles 174. Actuation of the switch means 150 by slat 33 causes the sprocket and chain means 59 to turn through a preselected distance whereby the assembled slat is lifted out of and above the horizontal path so as to position the immediately adjacent lower set of slat receiving openings in said horizontal path for reception of a succeeding slat 33.

This operation is repeated until a desired number of slats has been assembled in the lifting tape means. The machine is automatically stopped by the automatic counting device 40 when the selected number of slats has been assembled. In final assembly position the carriermeans 50 is located adjacent the top of the rails 47 and the Venetian blind thus assembled hangs downwardly therefrom. The carrier means 50 may then be lowered so as to close the Venetian blind and form a compact bundle of assembled Venetian blind slats. The header member 26 with the assembled slats and tapes may be suitably secured in such position by any convenient means as by securing ropes or tapes and may then be lifted as a bundle from the machine.

Lowering of the assembled Venetian blind slats may be automatically stopped by means of a switch means carried by one of the rails 47 and having a depressible switch contact element 186. The switch means 185 is electrically connected to the drive means for stopping the drive means in well-known manner. The carrier means 50 may include a pivotally mounted switch arm 187 carried by plate 53 and biased downwardly by a spring 188. When the carrier 50 is lowered, the end of arm 187 contacts the depressible switch element 186 for actuation thereof. It is understood other suitable means may be employed to control and stop the downward movement of the assembled Venetian blinds.

It may be noted that two different embodiments of switch means actuated by an advancing slat have been illustrated, one being switch means for causing actuation of certain portions of the apparatus, and the other being switch means for finally positioning and causing lifting of the carrier means 50. It is understood that switch means 115 may be employed in place of switch means 150 for performing the same operative functions as described for switch means 150. When a switch means 115 is so employed, a suitable rigid stop member may be provided for ultimate longitudinal positioning of a slat so that the cord receiving openings in the slats will be properly aligned. 7

In Fig. 16 is illustrated a modification of the means for intermittently raising the carrier means and assembled Venetian blind slats in 'step-by-step fashion. The modification illustrates a simply operative means whereby assembiy of Venetian blind slats having ladder openings including other than standard may be readily accomplished by the machine. When the slot receiving openings are of different height and the slats received therein are of greater width than standard, it will be readily apparent that the lifting tapes must be raised a distance greater than the distance required for a standard tape and slat assembly as described hereinabove.

In this modification motor 67 is connected to drive shaft 70 through a well known type of friction clutch means 189 instead of the single revolution clutch hereinabove described. The friction clutch means 189 may be solenoid actuated into engaging and disengaging position so that while the motor is running continuously the drive of shaft 70 may be electrically intermittently interrupted.

The solenoid actuated clutch means 189 may be connected to a switch means 19% carried on the distal leg 91 of the first guide means 86. The switch means 190 includes an upwardly biased reciprocally movable contact pin 191 which is adapted to contact as at 192 a lower end 193 of a pivoted slat engaging arm 194. The other end of arm 194 extends into the vertical assembly zone and into a position above the horizontal path of travel of a slat 33. When a slat 33 assembled with the lifting tapes is raised upwardly by actuation of the drive means by the switch means 158, the assembled slat 33 contacts and lifts the arm 194 so as to depress the push pin 191. Depression of the pin 191 closes an electrical circuit which causes the solenoid actuated clutch 189 to be disengaged so that drive shaft 70 is disconnected from the drive means. Vertical movement of the assembled slat is thus stopped at a point where the set of slat receiving openings therebelow are substantially aligned and open for the reception of a succeeding slat 33. When the succeeding slat strikes switch means 159 the clutch means 189 is actuated to engaged position for raising the slat assembly. Arm 194 is again in position to be contacted by the second slat for disengaging the clutch means and again stopping the vertical movement of the assembled slats. This operation is repeated until the assembly is completed.

It will thus be apparent that the modified means for intermittently raising assembled slats automatically adjusts the height of the slat lifting step to any spacing of the ladders in the lifting tape means.

It should also be noted that after the apparatus of this invention has begun to operate, virtually all succeeding operations performed by the machine are actuabove and all such changes which come within the scope of the appended claims are embraced thereby.

aazzese 1 1 Iclaimz p l In-an apparatus for:automatically assemblinglvenea tian blind: slats in spacedlliftingi tapes presenting sets Off' ings: for positively holding? the slat receiving openings;-

opem.

aligned openings for receiving said slats the combination of: a'frame structure; movable carrier meansmounted on' the frame structure adaptedtosupport'saidlifting tapesw in-normal parallel spaced relationship with sets of open ings in alignment andfor movement ina vertical-planarn zone; means for advancing a Venetian blind slatinto:-

said zone along a horizontal path extending through aset ofaligned openings; means carried by the frame struc-' ture extending into the planar zone for supporting and guiding an advancing slat along said path into assembled relation with said'lifting tapes; means actuated by said advancing slatfor causing the movable-carrier means to move the'assembled slat outof'said horizontalpath upwardly in said planar zone a pre-selected distance and'for moving a lower set of aligned openings into said path for receiving a succeeding slat in assembly with the spaced'lifting tapes; said actuated means including a rotatable member extending parallel to said horizontal path, and means'including an upstanding pin vertically-movable by the rotatable'member to positively lift said slat out of saidhorizontal path.

2. In an apparatus for assembling Venetian blinds" providedwith a'header member carrying depending spaced lifting tape means presentinghori'zontally' aligned sets" of slat receiving openingsthe'combination of: an upstanding frame structure-including-spaced vertical frame members; vertically movable carrier means carried byand? guided by said framermembers; means on saidcarriermeans adapted torsupport a headermemberand depending spaced lifting tape means connected thereto for-movement in a vertical zone; guide means carriedby the frame structurein said vertical Zone and defining; a horizontal path for a slat to be advanced across said vertical zonethrough aset of alignedslat receiving openings; means;

for advancing a slat along said horizontal path; means on the frame structure for longitudinally positioning a slat received in said slat receiving openingsgmeans actu ated by said slat when positioned for intermittently raising said movable means a preselected distance to position an adjacent lower set of slat receiving openingsin said horizontal path to receive a succeeding slat; saidactuatedmeans includinga member extending alongside said horizontal path and rotatable about'its longitudinal? ried by the frame structure extending into the planar' zone for supporting and guiding an advancing slat along 5;;In: an apparatus. for assembling stripelements in; parallelilinestin ax non-rigid strip holding means; adapted a.to;separately:retaineach element in assembly therewith; 1 the combination thereofz:a'framestructuregintermitten 1y; upwardly. movable :means' carried by the frame- 'st'ructure adapted to support strip holding means for-move-- ment iu a vertical planar zone; means carried by the frame extending into the planar zone in; the same directtio'n as'wthe parallel lines to bearrangedby'the strip-ele-' ments for supporting and guiding in a horizontal plane an:advancing strip element-along asel'ected path into "assembled relation with the holding means; switch means i carried by the-frame including a switchelement extend ing into said path for causing the movablemeans tomove the assembledstrip element out-of'said-path for receiving asucceedingelement; rotatable means carried by'said frame and extending parallel to said path;- and means for rotatingsaid rotatablemea'ns upon-contact of a slattwith said switch element toretract-said switch element out of said'path. v a

6. apparatus-as stated in-claim 5 wherein means are carried by the frame and longitudinally movable'relative' to. the frame by an advancing slat forenteringan aligned opening to I maintain said opening in expanded relation for receivingand-passing therethrough-thead vancingsportion of a slat; V r

7. A support and guide'means for guiding an elongated strip element alonga'path and for maintaining expanded an opening definedby compliant material while the strip=element is advanced thereinto, comprising in combination: a stationary means supported adjacent said path; a member carried bythe stationary means and -slidably movable relative thereto along and in the direction of said path, said movable member being provided with a pair ofpivotally'mounted flanged elementsnormally-biasedinto V arrangement and extending into the-f path of'an advancing strip element to receive the leading end of the strip element within the V in contact" therewith; whereby; the pair of flanged elements are advanced as a-wedge into said opening; means carried by'the stationary means and crank means carried by'the. pair' of elements cooperable to urge said pairof elements into parallel relation within said opening: to hold the compliant'material out of the path; of a' strip elemenbadVanced-through saidopening along'said path; and means for retracting said-movable element and said pair of elementswhen said strip; element is moved out of said path;

'8; In' combination with an apparatus for assembling; a Venetian blind slats; the provision of: a support and guide means for a slat, comprising a stationary means.

said path into assembled relation with said spaced holding means; means actuated by said advancing slat'for cansing the moveable carrier means to move the assembled slat-and holding means out of said path andatan angle thereto for a pre-selected distance for moving a lower set of aligned openings into said path for receiving a succeeding slat in assembly with the spaced holding means; said actuated means including a longitudinally extending rotatable member, and a. switchr element extending into: said-path to be contacted by a slat; saidv rotatable member beingoperably connected to the switch element to retract saidswitch element out ofisaid path.

4. An apparatus, as. stated in claim 3 whereinmeans for guiding a slat incli'ide springebiased; oppositely dis"- posed elements positionable in said slat receiving opensupported; adjacentv to thevpath of said slat; a movable member carried by said stationary means and provided a with oppositely disposed; pivotally mounted elements provided with upstanding flanges, said flanges being normally arranged in V'-shape extending laterally into the path" andwith the apex of the V disposedin the direction of'advancement ofjthe slat;jcrank means carriedby each element'forengagementwith saidjstationary means to position said flanges. in parallehrelation; and spring means to retract 'said'pairiofe'lements when said slat is movedout ofengagementtherewith.

9;. A; supporPand" guide means for guiding; an elon -I gated slat along a patlifand to holdTopen an opening defined'by spaced"flexihle tapes and transversely extending ladder elements while a slat, isadvanced into said opening,,comp'rising 'in'cornb'ination: a' support means positioned'adiacentflto, thepath of said slat; a movable. 7

member carried by the, supportmeans andnmovaole ion: gitudinally ofisaid, path relative 'to the support means, a pair ofpivotally mountedflanged elements normally extending partially across said'path and'carriedf by said:

movable member to extend into an opening; and'ineans 13 carried by the support means for retracting said pair of elements.

10. In an apparatus for automatically assembling Venetian blind slats, the combination of: a frame structure; horizontally extending support and guide means on said frame structure for receiving a slat in a horizontal position; means to advance a slat onto said support and guide means; a member extending parallel to the path of said slat in spaced relation thereto and rotatable about its longitudinal axis; a first switch means carried by the frame structure and provided with a switch contact arm normally disposed in the path of an advancing slat, said first switch means being pivotally mounted on the frame structure; means connected to said first switch means and engaging said rotatable member whereby said switch contact arm is moved out of the path of a slat when said slat contacts said arm; said first switch means being adapted to cause rotation of said rotatable member; a

14 second switch means carried by the frame structure in spaced relation to the first switch means and having a switch contacting arm disposed in the path of a slat and positioned longitudinally to determine the ultimate longitudinal position of said slat on said support and guide means; means for intermittently lifting a slat for a selected distance after said slat is ultimately positioned; said second switch means being connected with said intermittently lifting means to cause actuation thereof; and means adjacent to said second switch means and actuated by rotation of said rotatable member to lift a slat out of engagement with said second switch contact- Edwards et al Dec. 5, 1950 Vodra Apr. 21, 1953 

